Jamesty
Cremona, Italy, experts make some of the most revered and expensive violins in classical music. Antonio Stradivari and Giuseppe Guarneri “del Gesù” were luthiers in the 17th and 18th centuries, known for their beautiful craftsmanship and mythology woven into their varnish and wood grain. As of October 2025, the demand for these rare gems is driven by scarcity only 650 Stradivaris and 150 Guarneris remain and their unmatched tone, which musicians describe as possessing almost supernatural depth and projection. In March, a 1715 Stradivari “Baron Knoop” broke auction records at $23 million, highlighting the instruments’ standing as blue-chip investments that beat stocks. However, provenance, condition, and sales affect values. Based on auction data, professional appraisals, and private market estimates, we list the top 10 most costly violins worldwide. Musicians from Paganini to Perlman played these time capsules of musical history.
List Of Top 10 Most Expensive Violins In The World 2025
1. The Messiah Antonio Stradivari
The Messiah, made in 1716 during Stradivari’s “Golden Period,” is the top violin in Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum since 1939. Luthier Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume compared the infrequently played instrument to the Messiah always expected but never seen in a 19th-century joke. With minor wear from infrequent usage, it has Stradivari’s characteristic amber varnish and immaculate arching.
Notable violinists like Joseph Joachim and Nathan Milstein have evoked its “sweet yet grand.” Although it is priceless in the museum, experts estimate its value at $20 million if it were sold. One appraiser said, “It’s Stradivari’s genius frozen in time.
2. The ‘Vieuxtemps’ Guarneridel Gesú
The most expensive Guarneri, this 1741 “del Gesù” was sold for almost $16 million in a 2013 private sale. It was named for Belgian great Henri Vieuxtemps, who played it throughout the 19th century. Yehudi Menuhin, Itzhak Perlman, and Pinchas Zukerman love its strong, robust sound, deeper and more sonorous than a Stradivari. It has Guarneri’s unique f-holes and a one-piece maple back and is in perfect shape despite significant concert play. Through a lifetime loan, American violinist Anne Akiko Meyers praises its “lightning-like projection.” Due to Guarneri’s renown, market rumors estimate its worth will reach $18 million in 2025.
3. The ‘Lady Blunt’ Stradivari
4. The ‘Da Vinci’ Ex-Seidel Antonio Stradivari
The 1714 Golden Period gem “Da Vinci, ex-Seidel” sold for $15.34 million at Tarisio in 2022, the second-highest Stradivari auction price. The lifelong partner of Russian-American virtuoso Toscha Seidel, who bought it for $25,000 in 1924 and used it in Hollywood scores like The Wizard of Oz, Paris merchants named it after Leonardo da Vinci (one of their Renaissance artist baptisms).
Einstein was mentored by its poetic tone in concert-ready condition with original parts. A Golden Period Strad had not been auctioned in 15 years, and experts estimate its 2025 value at $15.5 million.
5. Joachim-Ma” by Antonio Stradivari
This 1714 Stradivari from his golden year sold for $11.25 million at Sotheby’s in February 2025, benefiting New England Conservatory scholarships. Formerly owned by 19th-century legend Joseph Joachim, it was played by Si-Hon Ma until 2009. Up to $18 million was bid for its dazzling amber-gold finish and sonorous depth. Violinist Joshua Bell considers Strads “subtle sound colors unmatched by moderns.” Value: $11.5 million.
6. The ‘Carrodus’ Guarneri del Gesú
There are rumors that link the “Carrodus” to Paganini, but it may have been gambled away. The “Carrodus” is Guarneri’s final-year masterwork from 1743, and its value ranges between $10 and $20 million. It is a loud, cannon-like tone that is comparable to that of Il Cannone, and it was named after the 19th-century violinist John Tiplady Carrodus. The dark solidity of it shone brightly in the Royal Albert Hall when it had its debut at the BBC Proms in 2025, which was performed by Inmo Yang.
7. The ‘Kochanski’ Guarneridel Gesú
The name of Polish virtuoso Paul Kochanski, who was the inspiration for compositions by Szymanowski and Prokofiev, is engraved on this 1741 del Gesù, which was auctioned at Christie’s in 2009 for a substantial sum of ten million dollars. With its mirror-image maple back, it is reminiscent of the 1740 “Ysaÿe,” while its wide-grained spruce top is reminiscent of the Vieuxtemps.
It has been beautifully preserved, and its profound sonority is captivating; Aaron Rosand has owned it for half a century. Estimates for 2025 remain at ten million dollars.
8. The ‘Mary Portman’Guarneridel Gesú
This del Gesù, which was crafted in 1735, is a prime example of Cremona’s Golden Age due to its extensive tonal palette and historical cachet; it was originally owned by Fritz Kreisler. The Stradivari Society is providing Francisco Fullana with a long-term loan of the item, which has a value of ten million dollars. As a result of its exclusivity and virtuoso pedigree, Fullana refers to it as a “creative unleash,” which increases its value.
9. The ‘Lord Wilton’Guarneri del Gesú
The 1742 “Lord Wilton,” which David Fulton purchased in 1999 for a record-breaking price of $6 million, is currently estimated to be worth more over $10 million. The longstanding instrument that Yehudi Menuhin has been using, with its steady response and “silvery aristocratic” tone, does not have any “wolf” notes. In the words of Fulton: “Like another player inside.”
10. La Pucelle’ Stradivari
Vuillaume’s scream of “virgin” upon witnessing the original neck of the 1709 Stradivari violin known as “La Pucelle” (The Virgin) is the reason for its value of $10 million. This is due to the fact that the violin was the first violin to be produced during the Golden Period. James Ehnes, who is the owner of Fulton, lauds the “beam of light” breadth of the vehicle. Luthiers will find it excellent because it is weightless and does not crack.
